Apparatus for making drawn metal tubes and metal castings



Jan; 26, 1943. C, wEssEL 2,309,608

APPARATUS IFOR MAKING DRAwN METAL TUBES AND METAL CASTINGS Filed Dec.16, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheetl '6 Sheens-Sheeil 2 ,|15 wao C. WESSEL Jan. 26,1943.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING DRAWN METAL TUBES AND METAL CASTINGS Filed Dec. 16,1940 C. WESSEL Jan. 26, 1943.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING DRAWN METAL TUBES AND METAL CASTINGS Filed Dec. 16, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 //f/N//f j///// g 8 o 6 Qwm 2.5 A C L A T E M DN A s E B U T L A T E M N W A R D G N I K A M R O F s U T A R A P P. A

C. WESSEL Jan. 26, 1943.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 6441i es@ Z C. WESSEL APPARATUS FOR MAKING DRAwN METALTUBEs AND METAL CASTINGS Jan. 26, 1943.

Filed Dec. 16, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet c3y n 9 .d @g 1 i e 7 1 00W *w MW Ud0 g nung; J 1 Zrf ,5 .y 7 ,d 7 f Jan. 26, 1943; c. wssEl. 2,309,608

APPARATUS FOR MAKING DRAWN METAL TUBES AND METAL CASTINGS Filed Dec. 16,1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Ryan/Z222 Patented Jan. 26, 1943 APPARATUS FORMAKING DnAwN METAL TUBES AND METAL CASTINGS Carl Wessel, Chicago,-Ill.,assgnor to himself and Lew W. Clemnson, Chicago, Ill., as trusteesApplication December 16, 1940, Serial No. 370,344

21 Claims.

The present invention relatesto method and apparatus for making drawnmetal tubes and metal castings. The tubes made according to the presentinvention may be of general application, but the particular shape oftube illustrated is of the type used 'as a shield for covering thelvacuum tubes of a radio receiving set.

In the manufacture of these tubes according to the prior art new rolledsheets of aluminum were used. These sheets of aluminum first had to beannealed and then slugs of aluminum were blanked out, the slugs being ofproper shape depending upon the section of the box. Such boxes might bemade rectangular, Square, round Ao hexagonal in shape.

Next, the slugs were tumbled to remove the burr and smooth them upsufficiently for the drawing operation. These slugs made according tothe prior art had dents or imperfections in their sides, which made thealuminum boxes imperfect. The imperfections 'were elongated and drawnout in the drawing operation. Practically none of the slugs or boxes wasperfect according to the prior art, although many were sulcientlyperfect for commercial purposes.

According to the prior art', the next step in the making of the boxes.was the preheating of the aluminum slug to a degree depending upon thetest of the specific sample of metal employed, usually about 380 F.'Thereafter the boxes or tubes were drawn out from the slugs accordingto the usual methods of metal drawing, but the drawing was verydiilicult, causing the machine to knock and there was a high percentageof defective boxes. The percentage of defective boxes according to thismethod was more than ten percent and the cutting waste was fifteenpercent or more, depending upon the shape of the box, whether it wasround or square.

The nal step in making the boxes or tubes was the cutting off of theopen end of the box to a predetermined length, which resulted in theWaste above mentioned.

I desire it to be understood that my method and apparatus may be usedfor making all kinds of receptacles or stampings, such as for examplekitchen utensils. f

The method according to the present invention may be briey characterizedas follows:

According to my method, any type of clean scrap or any other metaliningot form that has heretofore been used for drawing may be used as rawmaterial. The raw metal is rst melted in a furnace and poured from thefurnace in a heavy stream into a tilting 1am@A so that it wm contact aminimum amount of air.

Flame may be applied to the top of the liquid metal in the ladle for thepurpose of excluding the oxygen and maintaining the metal and mold at apredetermined temperature. As a general rule, no special uxes areneeded, provided the metal was clean.

The ladle constructed according to the present invention is lined with asuitable refractory and preferably so mounted that it may be tilted, andthe mold is preferably secured directly to the ladle at a dischargeaperture which is located above the free surface of the molten metal.

lThe mold may then also be preheated by the application of ame to anopening in the top of the closed ladle, the llame striking the surfaceof the metal and being deflected upward into the mold through thedischarge opening of the ladle. The discharge opening of the ladle intothe mold is, of course, open at this time, and the ladle or mold ispreferably provided with some means for opening and closing thisdischarge opening.

The next step is the tilting of the ladle untilA the free surface of themolten metal passes through the discharge opening into the mold, and themold is preferably so arranged that the metal wells up into the mold,driving out the small amount of air which may be in the mold. In someembodiments of the invention where relatively small or thin castings aremade, it is not necessary that the mold be so arranged that the metalwells up into the mold, but it may be so arranged that the metal owsinto the mold in a solid stream.

In either event, it is desirable that splashing be prevented, or ifthere is any splashing 'that the mold be preheated to Such apredetermined degree that the particles of metal which have splashed oifrom the main body of the stream are again remelted or maintained inmelted condition, so that when the mold is filled the condition of .themetal therein is homogeneous.

The amount of molten metal in the ladle and the amount of tilt of theladle is such that the mold is .not only filled, but there is a. head ofmetal in the ladle at a higher elevation than the metal in the mold, andwhen the mold is full the metal therein is subjected to continuouspressure of the head of metal in the ladle.

As the ladle has a large body of molten metal in it and the mold has arelatively small amount of metal in it and the mold is connected to theladle at the discharge opening thereof, the outermost part of the moldtends to cool first and this is also true of the casting in the mold.Very down toward the filling opening, and as it cools and shrinksadditional metal is supplied from the head of metal in the ladle untilthe shrinkage is all taken up and the metal casting in the mold hascongealed.

At this time the supply of metal to the mold is cut off at a relativelylarge sprue and the ladle may be tilted back, since the dischargeopening is now closed, and the metal cannot run back out of the mold.The metal does, however, run back from the closure at the dischargeopening of the mold.

The next step comprises the cutting off of the sprue or gate immediatelyadjacent the surface of the casting, which produces a. finished castingwithout any sprue that must be cut off after the castings are removedfrom the mold.

The mold may then be opened and the castings removed, and by means ofthe opening of the closure at the discharge opening of the ladle, anyremaining molten metal in the large sprue is permitted to run back intothe ladle. The conduits in the mold leading to the actual cavities ofthe mold are then cleaned of their excess metal or sprue, and the moldmay again be closed after removal of the castings for a recastingoperation.

Slugs made according to this method are of such uniform homogeneouscrystalline structure that they do not need to be preheated before theyare drawn into tubes or boxes. According to the present method, suchtubes or boxes may be drawn from slugs made according t this methodWithout preheating and without the diiiiculties which have beenencountered in the drawing oi tubes from blank slugs punched out ofsheet metal. The boxes made by this method are prac-y tically perfectand the amount of rejections ref' duced to a small fraction of thepercentage of' rejections according to the methods of the prior art.

The slugs made according to this method have a smooth, bright surface,which may be immediately subjected to polish without any machining orgrinding, and as there are practically no imperfections in the slugs,there are none to be drawn out into imperfections in the tubes.

It should also be understood that the present method of casting is notconfined to the making of slugs for tubes, but may be used for makin'gcastings of all kinds.

One-ofthe objects of the present invention is and. without theconditions of strain and tension that are produced in the sheet metalslugs by the operations to which they have been subjected.

Another object is the provision of an improved apparatus for casting bymeans of which castings having larger grain, softer metal, and morehomogeneous characteristics may be made.

Another object is the provision of an improved method of making drawncontainers which utilize any type of clean metal inscrap or ingo*l form,thereby reducing the cost of the raw material which may be used inmaking these products.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved methodof casting by means of which the defects of the prior art methods, suchas for example blow holes, inclusions, faults, cracks, and other defectsare practically eliminated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved castingapparatus, which is adaptable to use in small plants and which isadapted to produce characteristics of a high degree of uniformity ofcrystalline structure and uniform smooth outer surface adapted to bepolished.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing descripthe provision of an improved method of making drawntubular members, by means of which the imperfections and defects of thetubular meinbers made according to the prior art may be eliminated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved andsimpler method of making drawn tubular members, by means of which thestep of preheating may be eliminated and by means of which such tubularmembers may be drawn with less"'difilcu1ty.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved methodof making blanks for drawing operations, by means of which the blanksmay be made of homogeneous crystalline structure without theimperfections that are found in the sheet metal slugs of the prior art.

tion and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters ofreference indicates similar parts throughout the several views.

'Ihe present application is acontinuartion in part of my priorapplication, Serial No. 251,092, led January 16, 1939, for Metalcastings, methods and machines for casting the same.

Referring to the six sheets of drawings which accompany thisspecification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a casting apparatus' constructedaccording to the invention; y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the side which may beseen from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the casting apparatus;

Fig. 4 is afragmentary sectional view on a larger scale, taken on theplane of the line 4-4 of Fig..2;

. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View,

taken on the plane of the line 5-5 ofFig..4, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the plane oftheline 6 6 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig.- 7 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view, taken ,on the planeof the line 1-1 of Fig. 3, showing the complete apparatus as it appearsafter the castings have just been completed;

Figs. 8 and 9 comprise two fragmentary sectional views showing thecondition of the casting in the mold after the mold has been lled bytilting and after the mold and ladle have been held in tilted positionlong enough for the metal to congeal and shrink in the mold, and topartially congeal in the conduit leading from the ladle.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the same plane as Fig, 4;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the same plane as Fig. 6;

Figs. 10 and 11 are two views taken on the same planes as Figs. 8 and 9,showing the same apparatus, with the parts 'in the position which theyassume inthe manipulation of the parts of the mold to cutoff the spruelat the side of the casting;

Figs. 12 and 13 are two views similar to Figs. 8 and 9, showing theparts after one sideof the mold has been withdrawn and the mold openedfor access to the castings;

Figs. 14 and 15 are two views similar to Figs.

8 and 9, showing the parts of the mold after the open mold hasbeenemptied of its castings and of the sprue or excess metal remainingin the conduits leading to the cavities;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view in perspective, with the parts brokenaway to show the structure of the mold cavities and members which formthe conduit leading to the cavities, and which are adapted to cut oi thesprue;

Fig. 17 is a view in perspective of one of the cast metal slugs orcastings made according to the present method;

Fig. 18 is a view in perspective of a drawn tubular box made from theslug I1 according to the A present method;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the lineI9-I9 `of Fig, 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figs. 17 and 18, the slug shown in Fig. 17 is merelyexemplary of one of the forms of small castings that may be madeaccording to the present invention.

It comprises a piece of metal, the shape in plan being the same as theplan shape of the box or tubular member of Fig. 18. 'Ihus it has fourplane sides 20, and the upper and lower plane sides 2l and the cornersare preferably rounded at 22. The opposite sides of the slug areparallel to each other and perfectly smooth'and plane.

One of the characteristics of the castings made according to the presentmethod is that the sides of the castings are so smooth that they may bepolished without any intervening machining or smoothing operations.

It should be understood, however, that this slug is merely exemplary o fthe many different forms of castings 'that maybe made, as I have madetable knives, spoons, forks, and many other small articles according tothe same method.

I desire it to be understood also that aluminum is merely one of themetals which may be utilized according to the present. method, andthatithe invention is not limited in its use tb non-frrous metals, butmaybe employed forpractically all ferrous and non-ferrous alloys andmetals.

Referring to Fig. 18, this is the container which is formed from theblank of Fig 17, and it is provided with a bottom 23, and the four planesides 24, the opposite sides again being parallel to each other, and thecorners being rounded at 22. The box of Fig. 18 is formed according tothe usual methods of drawing such members from metal blanks, except thatinthe present specific instance it is found that by means of my castmetal slugs it is not necessary to anneal the metal or preheat it, as itwas in making the tubular containers from the sheet metal blanks of theprior art.

I desire it to be understood also that the tubular container of Fig. 18is Vmerely exemplary of one form of receptacle or container or drawnmetal member that may be made according to the present method. Thepresent methods may be utilized for making all kinds of containers, suchas kitchen utensils or other articles which may be made by drawingprocesses.

f Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 and 7, 36 indicates the casting apparatus inits entirety. This apparatus may have its parts further designated ascomprising the ladle 3| and the mold lap paratus 32. The ladle 3l ispreferably supported for pivotal movement upon a pair of bearingbrackets 33, which may be identical in shape.

Each of these bearing brackets has the foot flanges 34 and the upwardlyextending columns 35 suitably reinforced by reinforcing flanges 36,

and at its upper end the bearing bracket has a. horizontally extendingsocket 31 for receiving the bearing member 36.

The bearing member 38 may be provided with vertically extendingtrunnions 39 at the top and bottom, and located in bearing apertures 40so that the bearing 38'is mounted for pivotal movement on a verticalaxis, and is self-aligning with respect tothe same bearing on the otherbracket `The ladle 3| is preferably pivotally supported on the brackets33 by means of a centrally located metal bearingv band 4l, which has alaterally projecting trunnion 42 at each end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.The trunnions 42 are rotatably mounted in the bearings 38, which arealigned with suitable bearing metal at 43.

The band 4| embraces the sheet metal housing 44 of the ladle, to whichit may be secured by rivets, welding, or any convenient method. The

trunnions 42 are preferably located substantially midway between theendsof the ladle, or slightly upward of the middle of the containersothat when the ladle is empty and the mold apparatus 32 is attached, itis still held in upright position. When it is lled with metal, the ladletends to maintain its upright position by virtue of its own weightandthe weight of the metal in the ladle, but it may be easily tiltedbecause the apparatus is in a condition approximating a balance.

'I'he ladle 3| consists of a member which has an outer sheet metalshell, such as the jacket 44. carried by trunnions 42. Inside the `metaljacket 44 there may be a layer of suitable insulation, such as rock wool45 or other temperature resistant heat insulating material.

- 'Ihe ladle 3| has its' next inner layer 46 made of firebrick or othersuitable heat retaining and Y bottom and sides of the shell.

The spacer blocks 41 would also be made of vthe same material as therebrick and would transmit a. minimum amount of heat through the rockwool 45 to the shell 44.

The ladle has its innermost lining 48 made of suitable refractorymaterial which is adapted to withstand the high temperatures to whichthis lining is subjected by the molten metal'nd by the application ofheat with flameA as illustrated in Fig. 7.

n 'I'he shape of the container chamber 49 is preferably round whenviewed in plan and tapering from the bottom toward the top, and thelower corners at 50 are preferably rounded so as to facilitate cleaningof the chamber 49.

At its upper end the rebrick. lining 46 is provided with a cylindricalrecess 5I for receiving a removable cover 52, which may also be made ofrebrick material.

The cover 52 fits in the cover aperture 5I and @is of substantialthickness, being substantially turn is supported by a rectangular metalframe member 54, which may have a vertical flange 55 and horizontal ange56.

The rectangular frame 54 may project beyond the cylindrical shell 53 atthe four corners of the rectangular frame member 54 and may be providedwith apertures in the horizontal flange 56 for receiving the elongatedbolts 51, which extend to the lower end of the metal shell 44 and therepass through the radially projecting ears 58.

'I'he bolts 51 clamp the upper frame 54 to the shell 44 and secure thecover members 52 and 53 in place. The cover member 52 is preferablyprovided with a pair of tapered apertures or conduits 59 and 60. Theaperture 59 is merely for application of heat by means of the flame 6|from a gas burner 62, having an adjusting member 63 for determining theamount of air which is fed into the nozzle 62 with the gas.

The gas burner 62 may be secured by means of a bolt 64 to one of thevertical flanges 55 of the rectangular frame 54. Conduit 59 tapersupwardly and is arranged at one side of the container 49 so that theflame 6| may be directed inwardly toward the surface 65 of the moltenmetal 66 and be deflected upwardly into the conduit 60, which is thedischarge conduit leading.

to the mold apparatus 32.

Conduit 60 is preferably also provided with a refractory lining 61,similar to the refractory lining 48 previously described. This conduitalso tapers upwardly to the discharge opening leading into the moldapparatus 32.

The cover 52 is secured to the metallic cover plate 53 by means ofsuitable bolts which are embedded in the firebrick cover 52 at somedistance from the lower surface of the cover 52. 'I'he f'lrebrickinsulation of which cover 52 is made extends upwardly into an aperturein the metal cover plate 53, andthe refractory lining 61 extends upwardinto an aperture 1| in a guide plate 12 so that the conduit 60 isadequatelyl insulated against the transmission of heat.

The metal cover plate 53 preferably supports the metallic guide plate12, which is provided with the aperture 1|, registering with thedischarge aperture 60 of the ladle. The guide .plate 12 (Fig. 6)comprises a flat metal member, which may be of substantially rectangularshape, as shown in Figs. 8 to 15, and provided with an upwardlyprojecting border 13 surrounding three sides of the flat surface or bed14 of this guide plate. The inner Walls 15, 16 of this borderl (Fig. 14)act as guides for certain other-parts, further to be described, and theborder 12 may be provided with apertures for receiving the screwboltsl1, which pass through this guide plate and are threaded into themetallic cover plate 53.

The mold apparatus 32 preferably includes an upwardly extending frame,indicated in its entirety by the numeral 80. The frame 80 consists of apair of upwardly extending angles 8|, 82 at the side of the machine inFig. 1, and another pair of similar bars 83, 84 at the opposite side.

These bars are bolted to the rectangular frame 54 at their lower ends,and they are joined together by auxiliary frame members 85, 86 at eachside of the machine and by elongated frame members 81, 88 extendingacross the top of the frame (Fig. 3). v

This provides a top frame which comprises the members 85, 86, 81, 88,supported by the columns 8| to 84. The top frame may support a guideplate 90 (Fig. 2) similar in construction to the guide plate 12previously described, vbut oppositely located.

This guide plate also has a depending wall or border 9| which serves toguide the adjacent parts for sliding movement, but is open on one side,that is, the right side (Fig. 6). The mold may be indicated in itsentirety by the numeral 95.

Referring to Fig. 16, the main parts of the mold comprise theoppositelydisposed mold members 96 and 91, each of which is providedwith a plurality of cavities 98 and the two oppositely disposed members99 and |00, which form the conduit to these cavities, and serve to cutoff the sprue.

In addition to this, the mold has a pair of doors, best illustrated at|0|, |02 (Fig. 8) and other associated parts for controlling thesemembers.

The mold members 96, 91 may be similar in structure except that they areright hand and left hand members, as disposed in the drawings.

As a matter of fact, if the member 91 s turned end for end, it will beseen to be substantially similar to member 96. Each of these members andall of the main parts of the mold may be constructed of suitable metalof suiciently high melting point in relation to the metal to be used forthe castings, so that it will withstand the heat without damage. Forexample, the present molds may be made of iron or steel, when used foraluminum slugs, and the interior msh of the mold is, therefore, verysmooth, for tbe purpose of producing a casting of finishedcharacteristics.

Each of the members 96, 91 comprises a bar of metal, having a plane face|03, which is formed with a multiplicity of the cavities 98complementary in shape to the slug, which is shown in Fig. 17. One ofthe larger plane faces of this slug is arranged in the plane of thesurface |03 of the mold so that it Will be formed by means of the planesurface |04 on the door 0| or |02.

The mold member 96 is provided with a filling aperture |05 at one sideof the cavity 98, and the filling aperture preferably communicates witha transverse slot |06, which is rectangular in cross section and just aswide as the i'illing aperture |05 from top to bottom.

The slots or grooves |06 are adapted to receive the regularlyspacedtransverse ribs |01, which are located on the mold members 99 and|00. These ribs |01 are also rectangular in cross section and have anaccurate smooth fit in the grooves |06.V They are of such length on themember 98, for example, that they leave a small aperture at |08, whichis actually the filling aperture of the mold cavity.

In other words, the ribs |01 partially close the aperture |05,previously mentioned. The molds 96 and I99 are fixedly secured to theframework in vertical position, parallel to each other, and spaced fromeach other suiciently so that the members 99, |00 can slide between themolds 96, 91, with the ribs |01 in the grooves |06.

rIhus the mold members 96, 91 are secured at the bottom .by means ofbrackets ||0, to the guide plate 12. At the top these mold members aresimilarly secured to the guide plate by means of brackets ||2, ||3.

These ir'etal mold members are preierably provided with heat insulation,which may take the form of an insulating covering ||4, which isprotected by a metal shell I5 extending up the side of these moldmembers under the top and over the bottom thereof to a predeterminedpoint.

The bolts which secure the brackets to I|3 to the mold members passthrough the shell and insulation and may be threaded into the moldmembers. 'I'hese brackets ||0 to ||3 are preferably formed with an oisetas at I6, for the purpose of accommodating the size of\the moldapparatus to the size o1' the guide plates and giving the moldadditional support.

The mold members 99, |00 may also be substantially similar inconstruction, with a few slight diz'erences. Mold member 99 may comprisea bar of iron or steel or other suitable metal, which is provided withthe rectangular horizontally extending ribs |01 at regularly spacedpoints on each of itsopposite sides and projecting from the planeparallel surfaces |20, |2|.

The sides of the mold members 96, 91 also have plane surfaces at |22 and|23 for engaging the surfaces |20 and |2|, respectively. At its innerside the member 99 is provided with a longitudinally extendingsubstantially hemicylindrical groove |25.

This groove has such a diameter that it leaves a plane surface or ribformation |26, |21 at each side of the groove on the inner face. Ribformations |26, |21 are formed with the plane surfaces |28 at theirinner ends, registering with what may be called a filling slot |29leading to the fill., ing aperture |08 of the mold cavities 98.

The mold member |00 is similar in shape to the member 99, previouslydescribed, but is oppositely disposed, and it is also adapted to tagainst the adjacent sides of the molds, as it has ribs |01 for slidingin-the grooves |06. It also has the mold lling grooves |29-, a part ofwhich may be seen at Fig. 16. The moldt members 99 and |00 may meet at apoint'between the front and back of the mold cavities.

The guide plates 12 and 90 are adapted to slidably support an additionalpair of mold plates |30, |3|, one located at the top and one at thebottom of the mold assembly. The mold plates |30, I 3| may besubstantially similar in structure, except the mold plate'` |3| hasatapered filling aperture |32, which registers with the refractory linedconduit 60 at the top of the ladle, while the mold plate |30 isimperforate, being located at the top of the mold. Each of thesel platesis of sufficient width to fit in between the side walls |35, |36, |31,|38 on lthe upwardly and downwardly projecting borders of the guideplates 12 and 90.

The plates |30, |3| may also be formed with the depending border |40 andthe upwardly projecting 'border |4| for the purpose of providing a guidefor other mold parts. These border members |40, |4'| also extend aroundthree sides of the plates like those of plates 12 and 90, but the platesare oppositely disposed, having what would be called their open sideextending in the opposite direction'from the open side of the plates 90and 12.

The thickness of the plates |30, 3|, seen in Fig. 5, is such that thereis a clearance between these plates and the mold members 96, 91 at |42(Fig. 5). The space between the side walls |43 Thus the mold membermoves with the plates |30 and 3| at all times, and for the purpose ofactuating these members the member |00 is provided with a. thrust plate|46, which is secured .to it by screw bolts |41, and which has a socket|48. An actuating screw |49 has its end in the socket |48 and isprovided with a groove |50 of circular cross section, which registerswith a similar groove |5|. l

A circular wire |52 (Fig. 4) bent to annular shape, and located in thegrooves |50, '|5I, may hold these parts together, but permit rotarymotion between the screw |49 and thrust plate |46.

Wire |52 may be forced in through a tangential aperture. Screw |49 (Fig,4) extends through an internally threaded member |53 constructed likeand |44 (Fig. 5) of the plates |30 and |3| is such that the rectangularends of the members 99, |00 may be xedly secured or slidably mountedbetween these sidewalls |4.., |4f`4. 'Ihus the mold member |00 (Fig. 6)may be 'xedly secured to the plate 3| and plate |30 at the bottom andtop' of the mold assembly by means' ofthe screw bolts |45 which passthrough the plate and are threaded into the mold member.

a follower, but xedly secured to the vertically extending bars 83 and 84by screw .bolts |54. Handle |55 permits the screw shaft to be rotatedand causes the mold member |00 to move back and forth as desired, inFig. 6. In this motion it carries with it the plates |30, |3|, which areguided by the plates and 12.

The mold member 99 is slidably mounted between the walls U43, |44 of theplates |30, |3|, its movement being limited by the mold member |00 andby the abutment at |60.

This mold member may be provided with a pair of rearwardly projectinglugs |6| for engaging the cams |62 carried by camshafts |63, which arerotatably mounted in the* bearings |64, |65, and adapted to be actuatedby lever |66 (Fig. V10). The cams |62 are adapted to provide a vari`able abutment for limiting the movement of the mold member 99 toward theright in Fig. 6.

- The mold doors MH, |02 are best illustrated in Figs. 8 to l5. and Fig.4. The main bodies of each of these doors comprise a bar of'thesamemetal as the rest of the mold and of substantially rectangular crosssection.. These bars of metal t against the plane surfaces |03 of themolds 96, 91 and close the cavities 98 on that side. The doors |0|, |02are provided with upwardly and downwardly extending trunnions |10, thetrunnions being" rotatably mounted in bearings carried by the guideplates 90 and 12.

The oppositely facing edges of these doors |0I, |02 are also providedwith the slots |'1| (Fig.

12) of 4rectangular cross section for permittingthe sliding of the ribs|01 on the mold members 99, |00 (Fig. 16).

The metal bodies of the doors |00, |0| are preferably provided with alayer of insulation at |12, covered by a metal shell |13 secured to thedoors |0|, |02 by screw bolts, and the shell |13 is curved around thetrunnions |10 so as to permit suitable clearance between the doors andthevmold members 96, 91, so the doors may open to the position shown `inFig. l2 from that of Fig. 8 for removal of the castings.

The operation of the'mold is illustrated in Figs. 'l to 15. 'I'he moldis secured in Fig..7 in vertical position on the top of the ladle 3|.This is satisfactory in the present case because the lling conduits areso large that the metal advances in a parts are in the position of Figs.'7 and 8. The ladle cavity 49 is lled with a charge of clean metal,which has been kept from exposure to the air as much as possible. Thetilting of the ladle 3| causes the metal 66 to well up into the conduit60 and into the conduit |25 formed by the members'99, |00 between themolds 96 and 91. From the conduit |25I it passes laterally through theapertures |29, |08 into each of the cavities 98, the cavities filling bythe gradual rising of the free surface of the metal in these cavitieswithout any splashing or exposure to air other than that which is in thecavities.

The mold cover plates or doors |02 fit quite closely against the molds96 and 91, but the air may still escape through the cracks, althoughthere is substantially no fin formed on the castings, due to the close tof the parts of the mold. The ladle is then tilted back to the verticalposition shown in Fig. '7, and due to the cooling of the metal the metalin the mold and conduits looks as it is shown in Fig. '7.

The manipulation of the mold is then as iollows: Referring to Figs. 8and 9, it will be observed that the parts are shown here in the positionof Fig. '7. The cavities are all lled and partially congealed, and a.small amount of metal is congealed in the conduit |25, but the moltenmetal at the center runs back into the ladle.

'Ihe next step is the turning of the stop cam shaft |63 by means oflever |66 from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 10, establishing adiierent stop position for the member 99. The screw shaft handle |55 maythen be rotated in a clockwise direction to cause the member |00 (Fig.10) to move toward the right from the position of Fig. 8. Member |00 issecured to the guide plates |30 and I3 which move with it, and themember 99 also moves toward the right by the pressure of the member |00against it. The turning of the screw is continued until members 99 and|00 are stopped by the engagement of the lugs |6| with the cams |62, asshown in-Fig. 10. This motion has caused the member |00 to shear oi thesprue at a point immediately adjacent the side of the casting, by meansof the cutting edge ofthe ribs |01 in the grooves |06. In this actionthe conduit |25 in the mold members 99 and |00 has also been placedslightly 0E registry with the conduit 60 in the ladle, as seen in Fig.11.

The next step is the withdrawal of the member |00 by means of the screwshaft |49 and handle |55, bringing the parts in the position of Figs. 10and 11 to that of Figs. 12 and 13. This movement of the mold member |00draws with it the lower plate |3| and cuts off the vertically extendingsprue at the aperture |32 (Fig. 13)

In addition, the member |00 is wholly withdrawn from between the doors|0|, |02, so there will be no longer any binding between the adjacentsides of the doors and the member |00, and the doors may then bepivotally opened from the position of Fig. 10 to that of Fig. 12. A

The castings may then be removed from the cavities, and the hollow sprue(Fig. 12) may be removed from the groove |25 in the member 99, where itstands, and the parts are then in the position as shown in Figs. 14 and15, when the cam |62 may be turned back to the position of Fig. 8 andthe mold closed again to the position of Fig. 8. to be used again.

My method of making these drawn containers, which includes the method ofmaking the castings for the blanks, is as follows: The ladle 3| and themold are preheated by means of the gas burner 62 until they have reachedapproximately the temperature at which the molten metal is to be kept.The ladle is then filled with a charge of metal, which is made bymelting down clean scrap or other metal iningot`form. This may be anymetal which has so far been used for drawing and extruding, and themelting may be done in a furnace where the metal may be cleaned andskinned off so that it will be clean in the ladle.

It is poured in the ladle in such manner as to reduce the contactbetween the air and metal to a minimum, such as the pouring in a largestream.

Thereafter, the preheating of the mold may be completed by theapplication of the gas :dame through the aperture 59 into engagementwith the metal which defiects it up into the mold.

With the parts of the mold in the positions which they assume in Figs.'l and 8, the mold is tilted toward the right on its trunnions 42, andthe free surface 65 of the metal gradually progresses up the conduit 60and conduit |25 in a solid stream in such manner that the molds are lledwithout any splashing or any contact with air other than that whichhappens to be in the ladle or in the mold cavities.

The amount of oxygen in this air is reduced to a minimum on account ofthe application of the flame, which carries products of combustion upinto the conduit |25 and tends to driv'e out the air.

When the mold has been lled, the ladle may be immediately tilted back,and it is found, as a matter of practice, that this tilting operationmay be accomplished quite quickly with hardly any hesitation, as themold fills immediately, and the metal begins to congeal in the mold,beginning at a point farthest from the lling openings, and maintaining agradient of heat, the temperature increasing from the remotest part ofthe mold to the lling opening.

This is also true down to the metal in the ladle, which has the highesttemperature of any metal in the assembly because the metal in the ladleis the source of the heat for the metal in the mold; and the mold, beingmore remote from the ame, is necessarily cooler than the metal in theladle, particularly after the mold has been filled.

While the mold is being lled and the metal is congealing, the metalshrinks in the mold cavities, but the shrinkage is taken up by thepressure of metal caused by the head oi' metal in the ladle, which isabove all of the cavities, when the mold is fully tilted.

Thus the free surface 65 of the metal may completely cover the dischargeopening 60 inside the ladle chamber 49 when full tilting is reached.When the ladle is tilted back to vertical position, as shown in Fig. 7,congelation has taken place in the mold cavities, shrinkage has beentaken up, and congelation has partially taken place in the conduit |25,so that something like a tube is formed, the metal running back out ofthe hollow tube into the ladle 3|.

The next step is the cutting off of the sprue of each slug or castingimmediately adjacent the side surfaces of the casting. This isaccomplished by means of the mechanismof the molds by moving the partsfrom the position of Figs. 8 and 9 to that of Figs. 10 and 11.

The next step is the complete cutting off'of the Vlarger tubular sprueand the opening voi the molds so that the castings and detached spruemay be removed 'from the mold. This is done strain brought upon thecasting 2,309,608 while the parts are in the position of Figs. 12 andThereafter the castings are taken out immediately, the parts being againplaced in the position of Figs. 14 and 15 within a very short time afterthe ladle and mold have been tilted b-ack to vertical position.

At this time the castings are still very hot, and such shrinkage astakes place during the congelation of any part of the casting is takenup by the supply of additional metal from the head of metal which isimpressed upon the mold cavities by removing the castings immediatelyfrom the mold; after they have congealed, any additional shrinkage maytake place without inducing any undesirable strains because thev castingis not vheld by any mold, nor is there any contraction r by shrinkage ofthe sprue.

Castings made according to the present invention have a smooth surface,which may be immediately subjected to a polish, and therefore manyarticles which may be made by casting can be manufactured with a minimumamount of labor. Knives, forks, spoons, and other table ware show aremarkably smooth finish Without .i necessity for any machining or othersmoothing present method have smooth surfaces without defects. There arepractically no inclusions or faults or cracks, and consequently theslugs are perfectly adapted to the drawing of the tubular boxes whichare shown in Fig. 8.

:The grain of the metal is uniform and the metal is easily worked, andit is not necessary to preheat the metal for drawing purposes; but itmay be drawn cold into containers or members of all different sizes andshapes.

' The next step in the formation of the drawn tubular containers is thedrawing of the slug from the shape I1 to that of Fig. 18. This isaccomplished by means of drawing dies, which work on the metal in amanner similar to the dies of the prior art, but the drawing isaccomplished cold.

As distinguished from the tubular members which were made out of blanksthat came from sheet metal, the drawing may be accomplished with myblanks without laboring of the machinery, as the metal is much moreeasily worked. Furthermore, the large percentage of defective boxes,which result from the methods of the prior art, is not present accordingto my method, as

fect. There is a large saving in the cost because clean scrapor ingotmetal is much cheaper than the sheet metal of which the blanks were madeaccording to the prior art.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved method ofmaking drawn metal containers by means of which more perfect and moreeconomical containers may be( made with less laborand at a lower cost.

. My method of casting, lwhich is comprised in the method of makingdrawn containers may be made of any desired shape, such as kitchen ware,ash trays, or any other shaped metal container.

In the castings made according to the present invention approximatelyfifty per cent of the sprue runs back into the ladle so that thiseffects a large saving in the remelting of metal due tothe fact that thesprue is hollow and thin.

The method may also be used for making tubular members of the characterof the hollow sprue jusimentioned. It is also to be understood that thecastings made according to this 'method are not useable solely for drawnmetal containers, but various types of castings may be made.

According to my method, no part of the melted metal is separated fromthe compact stream of melted metal Welling up into the mold. Any liquidmetal which has separated from this compact stream surrounds itselfimmediately with oxide and when fused again in the mold will not make ahomogeneous structure. 'Ihe arrangement should be such as to provide anuninterrupted stream of metal of large cross-sectional area passinguniformly into the mold.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, butl desire to avail myself of all changeswithin the scope of the appended claims. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecurefby Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A mold for castingcomprising a supporting frame and a pair of guide plates carried by theends of said frame in opposed relation, one of saidguide plates having afilling aperture extending through the same, said guide plates beingprovided with parallel guide surfaces, a pair of mold members carried bysaid guide plates in opposed relation to each other, each mold memberhaving a plurality of mold cavities, and said cavities havingtheir'discharge openings on each mold member extending inwardly, saidmold members being spaced from each other sufficiently to receive apair'of movable conduit members, said conduit members being formed withopposed grooves forming a conduit for conductingmolten metal to thefilling apertures of said cavities.

2. A' mold for casting comprising a supporting frame and a pair of guideplates carried by the ends of said frame in opposed relation, one ofsaid guide plates having a lling aperture extending through the same,said guide plates being provided with parallel guide surfaces, a pair ofmold members carried by said guide plates in opposed relation to eachother, each-mold member havy ing a plurality of mold cavities, and saidcavities having their discharge openings on each mold member extendinginwardly, said mold members being spaced from each other suiiiciently toreceive a pair of movable conduit members, said conduit members beingformed with` opposed grooves forming a conduit for conducting moltenmetal to the lling apertures of said cavities, both of said mold membershaving a plurality of reguuarly spaced grooves communicating with theirdischarge apertures, and said conduit members having laterallyprojecting ribs for sliding in said grooves and cutting 01T the sprue.

3. A mold for casting comprising a supporting frame and a pair of guideplates carried by the ends of said frame in opposed relation, one ofsaid guide plates having a'lling aperture extending through the same,said guide plates being provided with parallel guide surfaces, a pair ofmold members carried by said guide plates in opposedA relation to eachother, each mold member having a plurality of mold cavities, and saidcavities having their discharge openings on each mold member extendinginwardly, said mold members being spaced from each other sufficiently toreceive a -pair of movable conduit members, said conduit members beingformed with opposed metal to the filling apertures of said cavities,both of said mold members having a plurality of regularly spaced groovescommunicating with their discharge apertures, and said conduit membershaving laterally projecting ribs for sliding in said grooves and cuttingoff the sprue, said ribs and grooves being of such depth that the spruemay be cut oi immediately adjacent the side of the casting. l

4. A mold for casting comprising a supporting frame and a pair of guideplates carried by the ends of said frame in opposed relation, one ofsaid guide plates having a. lling aperture extending through the same,said guide plates being provided with parallel guide surfaces, a pair ofmold members carried by said guide plates in opposed relation to eachother, each mold member having a plurality of mold cavities, and saidcavities having their discharge openings on each mold member extendinginwardly, said mold members being spaced from each other sufiiciently toreceive a pair of movable conduit members, said conduit members beingformed with opposed grooves forming a conduit for conducting moltenmetal to the iilling apertures of said cavities, both of said moldmembers having a plurality of regularly spaced grooves communicatingwith their discharge apertures, and said conduit members havinglaterally projecting ribs for sliding in said grooves and cutting oifthe sprue, said ribs and grooves being of such depth that the sprue maybe cut ofi immediately adjacent the side of the casting, one of saidconduit members being iixedly secured to a pair of guide plates that aremovably mounted in the guides of the first-mentioned guide plates.

5. A mold for casting comprising a supporting frame and a pair of guideplates carried by the ends of said frame in opposed relation, one ofsaid guide plates having a iillingV aperture extending through the same,said guide plates being provided with parallel guide surfaces, a pair ofmold members carried -by said guide plates inopposed relation to eachother, each mold member having a plurality of mold cavities, and saidcavities having their discharge openings on each mold member extendinginwardly, said mold members being spaced from each other sufficiently toreceive a pair of movable conduit members, said conduit members lbeingformed with opposed grooves forming a conduit for conducting moltenmetal to the illing apertures of said cavities, both of said moldmembers having a plurality of regularly spaced grooves communicatingwith their discharge apertures, and said conduit members havinglaterally projecting ribs for sliding in said grooves) and cutting offthe sprue, said ribs and grooves being of such depth that the sprue maybe cut off immediately adjacent the side of the casting one of saidconduit members being iixedly secured to a pair of guide plates that aremovably mounted in the'guides of the first-mentionedguide plates, thesecond of said conduit members being movably mounted in the second pairof said guide plates. l

6. In a casting apparatus, the combination of a ladle with a mold havinga filling opening come municating with said ladle and having its cavityprovided with metal surfaces, and heating means for the mold openingcomprising a burner projecting a flame into said ladle to be deflectedbackward by the molten metal in said ladle toward the mold for heatingthe mold at said filling opening.

'7. In a casting machine, the combination of a supporting frame providedwith a pair of upwardly extending arms having bearings, an insulatedcontainer serving as a ladle and having a pair of trunnions rotatablymounted in said bearings, an insulated closure for said container, saidcontainer having a discharge opening located in its upper end at oneside of said container, and a mold carried by said container, said moldhaving a lling conduit extending upwardly and leading to a plurality ofcavities, whereby the free surface of the metal is adapted to well upinto said conduit and into said cavities when the container is tilteddownwardly toward the side of the container on which the mold islocated.

8. In a casting machine, the combination of a supporting frame providedwith a pair of upward- ,ly extending arms having bearings, an insulatedcontainer serving as a ladle and having a pair of trunnions rotatablymounted in said bearings, an insulated closure for said container, saidcontainer having a discharge opening located in its upper endat one sideof said container, and a mold carried by said container, said moldhaving a filling conduit extending upwardly and leading to a pluralityof cavities, whereby the free surface of the metal is adapted to well upinto said conduit and into said cavities when the container is tilteddownwardly toward the side of the container on which the mold islocated, said mold comprising a pair of movable parts, one containingthe cavities, and the other containing a 1111- ing conduit, and saidparts being movable with respect to'each other to separate the castingin the cavity from its sprue.

' 9. In a casting machine, the combination of a supporting frameprovided with a pair of upwardly extending arms having bearings, aninsulated container serving as a ladle and having a pair of trunnionsrotatably mounted in said bearings, an insulated closure for saidcontainer, said container having a discharge opening located in itsupper end at one side of said container, and a mold carried by saidcontainer, said mold having a lling conduit extending upwardly andleading to a. plurality of cavities, whereby the free surface of themetal is adapted to well up into said conduit and into said cavitieswhen the container is tilted downwardly toward the side of the containeron which the mold is located, said container having an opening in itsupper side for receiving the nozzle of a burner, and a burner directedinwardly through said opening whereby its flame impinges on the freesurface of the metal in said container, and is reflected upwardly intothe mold to maintain a predetermined temperature in the lling apertureof the mold to prevent eongealing of the metal in said aperture.

10. In a casting machine, the combination of a supporting frame providedwith a pair of upwardly extending arms having bearings, an insulatedcontainer serving as a ladle and having c, pair of trunnions rotatablymounted in said bearings, an insulated closure for said container, saidcontainer having a discharge opening located in its upper end at oneside of said container, and a. mold carried by said container, said moldhaving a iilling conduit extending upwardly and leading to a pluralityof cavities, wherebythe free surface of the metal is adapted to well upirto said conduit and into said cavities when the container is tilteddownwardly toward the side of the container on which the mold islocated, said cavities having the filling openings leading to thecavities from said filling conduit located toward the lower part of saidcavity to facilitate filling 2,309,608 'of the cavities by welling up ofmetal into the cavities.

11. In a casting machine, the combination of an'insulated ladle with aguide plate carried by said ladle, and having a discharge opening, asupporting plate slidably mounted on the guide plate, and also having adischarge opening, said supporting plate carrying a mold and means foractuating said supporting plate to cut oii the sprue extending throughsaid opening after the casting has been made, and the metal is stillsoft.

l2. In a casting apparatus, the combination of a support with a heatinsulated ladle movably mounted on said support and adapted to betilted, with a mold carried by said ladle, said mold and ladle having acommunicating opening whereby metal may pass directly from the ladleinto the mold, said opening being located to be above the free surfaceof molten metal in the ladle, in one of the positions of said ladle, andheating means for the mold comprising a burner carried by said ladle andprojecting a ame into said ladle, into engagement with the free surfaceof molten metal in said ladle, to be deflected by said molten metaltoward the mold for heating of the mold.

12. In a casting machine, the combination of a supporting frame providedwith a pair of spaced supporting members, a heat insulated containerarranged and constructed to serve as a ladle, said container beingtiltably mounted on said supporting members and having a heat insulatedclosure, said lcontainer having a discharge opening located to be movedto a position below the free surface of molten metal in said ladle, inone of the ladle positions, and a mold carried by said container, saidmold having a lling opening communicating directly with said ladle, andsaid mold. having a cavity extending upwardly from said lling openingwhen the ladle is in the above-mentioned position, whereby the metal isadapted to well up into said iilling opening and into the cavity of themold when the container is tilted downwardly into said rst-mentionedposition, to effect a lling of the cavity without splashing orseparation of the metal in the mold from the main body of the metal inthe ladle until the casting is congealed in the mold and the ladle istilted backward to separate the molten metal from the casting.

14. In a mold for casting, the combination of a two-part mold, one ofsaid parts being provided with a multiplicity of cavities, and the otherof said parts forming a substantial closure for said cavities, with atwo-part sprue conduit having openings leading to said multiplicity ofcavities and movably engaging the two-part mold, and means to move thetwo-part sprue conduit relative to the mold to cut olf the multiplicityof sprues simultaneously at the side of the casting in said cavities..

15. In a mold for casting, the combination of a two-part mold, one ofsaid parts being provided with a multiplicity of cavities, and the otherof said parts forming a substantial closure for said cavities, with atwo-part sprue conduit having openings leading to said multiplicity ofcavities and movably engaging the two-part mold,4

and means to move the two-part sprue conduit relative to the mold to cutoff the multiplicity of sprues simultaneously at the side of the castingin said cavities, said sprue conduit being slidably mounted to engagethe side of the mold having the cavity openings.

16. In a mold for casting, the combination of a two-part mold, one ofsaid parts being provided with a multiplicity of cavities, and the otherof said parts forming a substantial closure for said cavities, with atwo-part sprue conduit having openings leading to said multiplicity ofcavities and movably engaging the two-part mold, and means to move thetwo-part sprue conduit relative to the'mold" to cut off the multiplicityof sprues simultaneously at the side of the casting in said cavities,said sprue conduit being slidably mounted to engage the side of themoldhaving the cavity openings, and said mold having one of its partspivotally mounted and held in engagement with the other part by itsslidable engagement with the sprue conduit.

17. In a casting apparatus, the combination of. a heat-insulated ladlehaving a removable cover and having a burner opening with a mold havinga lling opening communicating with said ladle 18. In a castingapparatus, the combination of a heat-insulated ladle having a removablecover and having a burner opening with a mold having a filling openingcommunicating with said ladle and having its cavity provided with metalsurfaces, and heating means for the mold opening comprising a burnerprojecting a iiame into said ladle to be deected backward by the moltenmetal in said ladle toward the mold for heating the mold' at said llingopening and to exclude oxygen from the space above the molten metal, thesaid cover, when removed, exposing the free surface of the molten metalin said ladle for skimming.

19. In a casting apparatus, the combination of a heat-insulated ladlehaving a removable cover andv having a burner opening with a mold havinga lling opening communicating withA said ladle and having its cavityprovided with Iinetal surfaces, and heating means for the mold openingcomprising a burner projecting a ame into said ladle to -be deiiectedbackward by the molten metal in said ladle toward the mold for heatingthe mold at said iilling opening and to exclude oxygen from the spaceabove the molten metal, the said lling opening communicating with theladle through a direct streamlined conduit gradually decreasing in sizefrom the ladle to the mold.

20. In a casting machine, the combination' of a supporting frameprovided with a pair of spaced supporting members, a heat insulatedcontainer arranged and constructed to serve as a-ladle, said containerbeing tiltably mounted on said supporting members and having a heatinsulated closure, said container having a discharge opening located tobe moved to a position below the free surface of molten metal in saidladle, in one of the ladle positions, and a mold carried by saidcontainer, said mold having a lling opening communicating directly withsaid ladle, and said mold having a cavity extending upwardly from saidiilling opening when the ladle is in theabovementioned position, wherebythe metal is adapted to well up into said lling opening and into thecavity of the mold when the container is tilted downwardly into saidrst-mentioned position, to eiect a lling of the cavity without splashingor separation of the metal in the mold from the main body of the metalin the ladle until the casting is congealed in the mold and the ladle istilted backward to separate the molten metal from the casting, and aburner carried by said machine and located in a burner opening toproject a iiame into said ladle, said flame being reflected from themolten metal toward the mold when the filling opening of the mold isabove the free surface to heat the filling opening of the mold and driveout the oxygen from the space in the ladle above the free surface.

21. In a casting machine, the combination of a supporting frame providedwith a pair of spaced supporting members, a heat insulated containerarranged and constructed to serve as a ladle, said container beingtiltably mounted on said supporting members and having a heat insulatedclosure, said container having a discharge opening located to be movedto a position below the free surface of molten metal in said ladle, inone of the ladle positions, and a mold carried by said container, saidmold having a filling opening communicating directly with said ladle,and said mold having a, cavity extending upwardly from said fillingopening when the ladle is in the abovementioned position, whereby themetal is adapted to well up into said iilling opening and into thecavity of the mold when the container is tilt'- ed downwardly into saidfirst-mentioned position, to efIect a iilling of the cavity withoutsplashing or separation of the metal in the mold from the main body ofthe metal in the ladle until the casting is congealed in the mold andthe ladle is tilted backward to separate the molten metal from thecasting, said ladle having its closure removable to permit skimming ofthe free surface of the molten metal, and said ladle hava streamlinedconduit gradually diminishing in size communicating with said llingopening.

CARL WESSEL.

